Man Pleads Guilty To Assaulting Mennonites

The Intelligencer Journal/ Lancaster New Era reports 24- year-old Dereck Taylor Holt last Thursday blamed a prescription drug addiction is for his crime.

Holt apologized and said he’s “not a heartless being.” He pleaded guilty to multiple counts including robbery and aggravated assault.

Authorities say Holt pretended to be an insurance salesman to get inside the Clay Township, Lancaster County home in December, then bound the victims, hit them with a stun gun and sprayed the home with household chemicals. The victims ranged in age from 85 to 91.

Investigators initially believed the sisters were targeted because of their religion, but charges of ethnic intimidation were later dropped.